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Travel Guides: Ohio

General Information

Ohio

Located to the south of Lake Erie, Ohio is the easternmost of the Great Lake states and one of the most industrialised regions in the country. Railroads, the Ohio River and the ports on Lake Erie, as well as the construction of the Erie-Ohio Canal linking the two waterways, aided the state's development as a major manufacturing centre, combined with abundant natural resources that enabled its cities to become important centres of industry. However most of the industry is clustered around the Ohio River to the east.

Ohio's proficiency as a manufacturing hub continues today, but cities like Cincinnati and Cleveland have undergone a major rejuvenation and are surprisingly attractive, having successfully managed to exchange factories and warehouses for gleaming downtown centres. Cincinnati offers a variety of museums, galleries, fine dining and shopping, while Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a major, internationally-acclaimed attraction. Fascinating neighbourhoods, miles of parklands and a revitalised lakefront image are drawing visitors to this city on the shores of Lake Erie. The state capital of Columbus is the main hub of education, research and commerce and is a lively college city with fine architecture and several interesting museums.

Although dominated by its three main cities, the most visited destinations in the state are the sandy shores of the Lake Erie Islands with a wide range of recreational activities including boating, fishing, swimming, as well as numerous historical sites and nature areas.

Despite its association with industry and pollution, the state of Ohio is mostly covered in fertile farmland, and the northeast is home to the world's largest Amish population, a decidedly old-fashioned community who sell their freshly grown produce along with traditional handmade crafts in the small town country shops. To the south lies Ohio's outback, a less populated region that is heavily forested and can best be experienced in Wayne National Forest.

Activities

Progressive Field, Cleveland

Home to the Cleveland Indians baseball team, Progressive Field is a beautiful outdoor stadium in downtown Cleveland. Built in 1994, Progressive Field (formerly known as Jacobs Field) was voted the best major league ballpark by Sports Illustrated in 2008. Catching an Indians game is a great way to spend a warm summer evening in Cleveland, and true fanatics can take a tour of the stadium between May and September.

Getting There:
Rapid Transport Authority stops at Tower City, a 10-minute walk from the stadium.

Admission:
Tickets range from $8 to $85, depending on section and game. Tours are $7.50 adults, $5.50 children.

Cedar Point Amusement Park, Cleveland

Cedar Point Amusement Park, located in Sandusky Ohio just outside of Cleveland, is a paradise for roller coaster lovers. Named 'Best Amusement Park in the World' many times over, it is the only park to have four roller coasters taller than 200 feet (61m). If those are too much for you, though, there are 13 others to choose from, along with dozens of other rides and attractions for all ages. Cedar Point also boasts and indoor and outdoor waterpark, white sand beach, two marinas, and Challenge Park, which offers go-karts and miniature golf as well as several thrill rides. One of the oldest theme parks in the US, Cedar Point has been operating since 1870.

Getting There:
Approximately 55 miles (88km) from Cleveland by car.

Opening Times:
Open May to October. General hours 10am-10pm, however hours and dates vary according to season. Check the website for specific times.

Admission:
Adults $46.99 adults, $21 children under 48 inches (122cm). Discounted tickets available from the website.

Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland

Located on the lakefront, the glass facade of the Great Lakes Science Center makes it a perfect match to the adjacent glass pyramid-shaped structure of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is one of the largest science museums in the country with 375 exciting interactive exhibits that explain subjects such as planet earth, meteorology, sports, music, environment and technology through hands-on examples. The new Great Lakes Environment exhibition focuses specifically on the Great Lakes region. It also contains the region's only OMNIMAX Theatre.

Getting There:
Rapid transit from Public Square to North Coast Harbour Station

Opening Times:
Daily 10am-5pm (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)

Admission:
Exhibits: $9.95 (adults), $7.95 (children); OMNIMAX: $9.95 (adults), $7.95 (children); exhibits and OMNIMAX: $14.95 (adults), $12.95 (children). Other concessions are available

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland

The term 'rock and roll' was coined by Cleveland DJ Alan Freed in the early 1950s, and it is partly for this reason that Cleveland won the fiercely contested honour of becoming home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei as an 'echo of the energy of rock and roll', the glass and porcelain pyramid-shaped structure is a celebration of the American institution of rock music in honour of those who have had an influential role on modern music. With a permanent collection drawing from the most impressive and iconic rock and roll artefacts and a wide-ranging roster of on-going and temporary exhibits, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to exploring the past, present and future of the music. The Museum augments its own massive collection of thousands of artefacts with items on loan from artists and collectors from around the world. It includes exhibits dedicated to the museum's choice of all-time top artists, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, U2 and the Rolling Stones. As one of the state's top attractions, it gets particularly crowded on weekends and advance booking is required, especially as new artists are being inducted.

Getting There:
Waterfront Rapid transit from Public Square to North Coast Harbour Station

Opening Times:
Daily 10am to 5:30pm; in summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) the museum is also open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Admission:
$22 (adults), $13 (children aged 9-12). Concessions available